Hong Kong police arrest 2 TVB executives over unauthorised access to restricted computer files
- City’s biggest free-to-air television broadcaster also fires the pair, along with third staff member
- Company says it possesses ‘compelling’ evidence showing arrested duo ‘conspired, aided or abetted external individuals in attempting to sabotage … TVB’s governance’
Hong Kong police have arrested two executives from the city’s biggest free-to-air television broadcaster for allegedly gaining unauthorised access to restricted computer files, and the pair were immediately dismissed by the station alongside another staff member.
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, released a statement confirming the arrests and the dismissals with immediate effect, saying the duo were arrested on the charge of “access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent”.
The maximum penalty for the crime is five years in jail.
The case involving a 56-year-old woman and 59-year-old man is being handled by the force’s Kowloon East regional crime unit.
“The company also possesses compelling evidence showing these individuals conspired, aided or abetted external individuals in attempting to sabotage … [TVB’s] governance and disseminating false information about the company for personal gain,” the statement said.
TVB News reported that the two were arrested at the broadcaster’s headquarter in Tseung Kwan O and computers were seized as evidence. The names were translated from the news report.